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. 2012 Apr 7;18(13):1525-30.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i13.1525.

Noninvasive parameters and hepatic fibrosis scores in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Hye Ran Yang  1 , Hae Ryoung Kim, Myung Jin Kim, Jae Sung Ko, Jeong Kee Seo
Affiliations

Noninvasive parameters and hepatic fibrosis scores in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Hye Ran Yang et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the noninvasive parameters and hepatic fibrosis scores in obese children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: A total of 77 children diagnosed with NAFLD via liver biopsy were included and divided into 2 subgroups according to the histopathologic staging of hepatic fibrosis: mild (stage 0-1) vs significant fibrosis (stage 2-4). Clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated in each patient. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, AST/platelet ratio index (APRI), PGA index, Forns index, FIB-4, NAFLD fibrosis score, and pediatric NAFLD fibrosis index (PNFI) were calculated.

Results: No clinical or biochemical parameter exhibited a significant difference between patients with mild and significant fibrosis. Among noninvasive hepatic fibrosis scores, only APRI and FIB4 revealed a significant difference between patients with mild and significant fibrosis (APRI: 0.67 ± 0.54 vs 0.78 ± 0.38, P = 0.032 and FIB4: 0.24 ± 0.12 vs 0.31 ± 0.21, P = 0.010). The area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of FIB4 was 0.81, followed by Forns index (0.73), APRI (0.70), NAFLD fibrosis score (0.58), AST/ALT ratio (0.53), PGA score (0.45), and PNFI (0.41).

Conclusion: APRI and FIB4 might be useful noninvasive hepatic fibrosis scores for predicting hepatic fibrosis in children with NAFLD.

Keywords: Child; Fatty liver; Hepatic fibrosis; Noninvasive; Obesity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Receiver operating characteristic curves for the noninvasive hepatic fibrosis scoring systems used to diagnose clinically significant fibrosis (stage 2-3) in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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